Dispensing cartridge with severable portions



0% 1969 L. c. THOMAS 3,472,433

DISPENSING CARTRIDGE WITH SEVEHABLE PORTIONS Filed Feb. 13, 1968INVESTOR. Lew/.5 C. Tqarvms ATTORNEYS United States Patent r 3,472,433DISPENSING CARTRIDGE WITH SEVERABLE PORTIONS Lewis C. Thomas, 3204 NW.61st St. Terrace, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73112 Filed Feb. 13, 1968, Ser.No. 705,159 Int. Cl. B6541 47/06; Golf 13/00 U.S. Cl. 222-541 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to cartridges of the type used to package caulking compound,lubricating grease and like materials for use in a dispensing gun orapparatus in which the cartridge is placed.

It is quite common to package materials such as caulking compound,lubricating grease and the like in cartridges having a closed end,formed to define a spout in some cases, and which cartridges are to beplaced in a dispensing apparatus wherein a plunger is caused to enterthe other or open end of the cartridge and apply pressure to thematerial therein to discharge the same through the originally closedend. In some cases the cartridge is provided with a nozzle at its closedend, the tip of which could be severed to provide a discharge openlyjlnother cases the normally closed end of the cartridge is merelyperforated and the material discharged into a nozzle comprising aportion of the supporting apparatus. Throughout this application theterm semiliquid material will be employed to designate such materials ascaulking compounds, lubricating grease or the like. For eflicientoperation it is essential that the plunger which applies pressure to thesemiliquid material fit the cartridge quite snugly to prevent reverseleakage. In many prior constructions the cartridges were made ofcardboard or the like, which necessitated joints exposed to the interiorof the usually cylindrical cartridge. Such joints could cause theplunger to hang up or otherwise interfere with operation of thedispensing mechanism and during handling the lip of the open end waseasily bent or paritally collapsed, rendering it diflicult to insert theplunger. Furthermore, in those cartridges wherein an opening must beprovided in the closed end, some difficulty was experienced in formingsuch an opening of the proper shape and dimensions. A furtherdisadvantage existing in prior devices is that the semiliquid materialwith which the cartridge is charged does not completely fill the same upto its normally open end but a space is left therein and when aclose-fitting plunger is introduced into the cartridge, air is trappedbetween the plunger and the semiliquid material, which air interfereswith proper operation of the dispensing device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a cylindricalcartridge of the type referred to, formed of thin plastic materialwhereby it may be made to precise dimensions and is provided with asmooth inner surface adapted to snugly embrace a plunger or the likewithout oflering any subice stantial resistance to movement of theplunger and without danger of the plunger engaging a protuberance and bearrested in its movement. The cartridge is provided with a normallyclosed and a normally open end and a plurality of hollow dimplesprojecting outwardly from the side of the cartridge adjacent the openend, to a position at least down to the normal level to which thecartridge is filled with semiliquid material. Thus, all of those dimplesabove the material may be severed to provide vent openings to exhaustair therefrom after the plunger enters the open end. The normally closedend of the cartridge is provided with a central portion axially oflsetfrom the rest of the end wall and defining therewith a sharp junctureadapted to precisely guide a cutting tool, such as a knife or the like,whereby a discharge opening of the desired size and shape results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sideelevational view of a cartridge embodying the present invention;

'FIG. 2 is a left end elevational view of the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right end elevational view of the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on theline 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 4, withthe left end wall and cap removed and assembled with a nozzle structureand actuating piston, the latter elements being shown in dotted lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings,numeral 2 designates generally a cartridge embodying the presentinvention and comprises a cylindrical portion 4 preferably formed ofrelatively thin but tough plastic material, such as polyvinyl chlorideor polyethylene. The cartridge is provided with a normally open end 6and a normally closed and 8 and is filled with the desired semiliquidmaterial 10 to a level, indicated at 12, inwardly of the open end 6.Adjacent its open end the cartridge is provided with a circumferentialrib 14 and a cap having an end wall 16 and circumferential flange 18 isemployed to close the open end of the cartridge during shipment andprior to use. The inner surface of the flange 18 is provided with aninwardly projecting circumferential rib 20 in position to snap over therib 14 when the end wall 16 abuts the open end of the cartridge andthereby be releasably retained as a protective closure. Obviously, thecap 16 can be removed at will, when it is desired to dispense thematerial from the cartridge.

Adjacent the open end 6 the cylindrical side wall 4 is provided with aplurality of longitudinally spaced hollow dimples 22 extending from aposition adjacent the inner edge of the flange 18 to a position beyondor inwardly of the surface 12 of the contained material.

At its other end, which may be termed the normally closed end of thecartridge, a circumferential outwardly extending rib 24 is formed andwhich merges with a substantially planar annular end wall portion 26. Acentral portion 27 of the closed end is integrally joined to the innerperiphery of the annular portion 26 along a fairly sharp fold line 28and the material of this central portion is shown as being foldedoutwardly to define a relatively sharp V-notch 30 defining the juncturebetween the central portion and the annular portion. Thus, a knife orthe like may be positioned with its cutting edge in any portion of thenotch 30 and can be guided thereby to sever the central portion of theclosed end from the annular portion 26 and thus provide a dischargeopening 32. As shown in FIG. 4, the central portion of the end wall isfolded outwardly, then reversely folded inwardly with the midportion 34thereof depressed inwardly toward the cartridge. In this manner theamount of material 10 wasted when the central portion of the end wall iscut off in the manner described is minimized.

FIG. schematically shows a cartridge in place in a dispensing apparatusafter the end cap 16 has been removed, the central portion of the closedend severed, the cartridge placed in an apparatus, shown partly indotted line at 36, and a piston or plunger 38 of the apparatus has beenprojected into the open end of the cartridge, as also shown in dottedline.

The dispensing apparatus 36 includes a recessed portion 40 adapted toreleasably engage the rib 24 of the cartridge to properly position andhold the same in the apparatus. A discharge passageway 42 is providedwhich is in alignment with the opening 32 previously described and maylead to any suitable nozzle or other discharge means.

As shown at the right end of FIG. 5, the two outermost dimples 22 havebeen severed to provide vent openings 44. Severance of those dimples isaccomplished prior to insertion of the plunger 38 in the cartridge andas the plunger approaches the surface 12 of the semiliquid material, anyair between the plunger and the material is readily vented anddischarged through the openings 44 so that the plunger 38 can directlycontact and apply pressure to the semiliquid material 10.

While a single specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed herein, the same is merely illustrative of the principlesinvolved.

I claim:

1. A cartridge for use in a dispensing device, comprising: asubstantially cylindrical thin-wall, hollow container, of plasticmaterial, having a closed end and an open end; the side wall of saidcontainer being formed to define a plurality of longitudinally spacedand outwardly extending hollow dimples adjacent said open end wherebyselected ones of said dimple-s may be sheared off to provide ventopenings through said side wall adjacent to but inwardly of said openend.

2. A cartridge as defined in claim 1 including a body of semiliquidmaterial in said container and filling the same to a level intermediatethe innermost and outermost of said dimples.

3. A cartridge as defined in claim 2 including; an outwardly projectingintegral rib extending circumferentially around said container betweensaid dimples and said open end; and a cap member having a closure wallseated on said open end and a cylindrical flange embracing saidcontainer adjacent said open end, said flange having an inwardlyprojecting circumferential rib snap-fitted over said rib on saidcontainer.

4. A cartridge for use in a dispensing device, comprising: asubstantially cylnidrical thin-wall, hollow container, of plasticmaterial, having a closed end and an open end; said closed end defininga closure wall having a substantially planar annular outer portion and acentral portion integral therewith but being axially displaced outwardlytherefrom, said annular and central portions being joined along asharply bent juncture defining a radially outwardly facing annularV-shaped channel whereby said central portion may be readily severedfrom said container to provide a material discharge opening, the majorportion of said central portion being displaced axially inwardlysubstantially to the plane of said annular outer portion.

5. A cartridge as defined in claim 4 wherein said container is providedwith a radially outwardly projecting circumferential rib at the juncturebetween said annular portion and the side wall of said container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,831,615 4/1958 Sherbondy22'2326 X 2,893,611 7/1959 Akers 222-541 X 3,152,727 10/1964 Evans222--541 X STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary 'Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 222326

